About Cacaliopsis nardosmia (A.Gray) A.Gray
Cacaliopsis nardosmia (A.Gray) A.Gray is a perennial herb that grows from rhizomes with a fibrous root system. It produces an erect stem that reaches a maximum height of approximately 90 centimeters (35 inches). Its leaves are alternately arranged, with most leaves growing near the base of the stem. Leaf blades have lobes that are further subdivided into toothed segments. The foliage ranges from hairy to woolly in texture, particularly on the undersides of the blades. Leaf blades can grow up to 35 centimeters (14 inches) long, and are attached to petioles that reach up to 30 centimeters in length. Flowering occurs from May to July. The flower heads are arranged in arrays or clusters, each measuring 1.5–2 centimeters (5⁄8–3⁄4 inches) long, with bracts of the same length. Each flower head holds up to 50 long yellow or orange disc florets, and does not produce any ray florets. The fruit this species produces is a veiny cylindrical cypsela, topped with a long pappus made of many barbed, white bristles. This species is distributed from southern British Columbia to northern California, occurring along both the Cascades and the northern Coast Ranges. It grows in oak and pine forests and meadows, and is sometimes found growing on serpentine soils.
